Maoists deny Devji’s role in Hidma killing; seek judicial probe into ‘fake encounters’

CPI (Maoist) spokesperson Vikalp denied allegations that outfit’s chief Devji leaked information leading to commander Madivi Hidma’s death, claiming he and others were killed in fake encounters. He alleged police collusion across States and demanded a judicial inquiry

Kothagudem: CPI (Maoist) Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee spokesperson Vikalp said outfit’s general secretary Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devji had no role in the killing of top Maoist commander Madivi Hidma.

In a statement dated November 27 released to the media on Thursday, he refuted the allegations made by former Chhattisgarh MLA Manish Kunjam and adivasi leader Soni Sodi that Devji leaked information to the police about Hidma’s presence in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada. He said Devji and Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram were not among the Maoists arrested by the police.

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The two top leaders did not enter into any agreement with the police to save their lives, he said, reiterating that Hidma, his wife Raje and their associates were captured unarmed and killed in a fake encounter in Maredumilli forests by Andhra Pradesh Police.

Maoist Central Committee spokesperson Abhay in a statement on November 20 had made the same allegation. Vikalp alleged that a Vijayawada-based timber trader, who took Hidma to Vijayawada for medical treatment on October 27 and a surrendered Maoist company party member, Kosul played a key role in the killing of Hidma and others on November 18. The trader and Kosul leaked the information on Hidma’s whereabouts to the police. After Kosul’s surrender before Telangana Police on November 9, Hidma was alerted on November 14 asking him to return to the forests. He planned to move to a safe place, but was caught by the police, he said.

The information leak also led to the arrest of Maoist AOB State Committee member Tech Shanker along with others in a fake encounter on November 19, besides arrest of 50 Maoists in different districts across Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Vikalp noted the operation in which Hidma was killed was not carried out by the Andhra police solely, but by the police of different States and the Centre under the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the ‘fake encounters’.